Wrist Alarm / Memovox

[marcus]

Hi all,

I am looking to buy a JLC Wrist Alarm which the seller says is 1970's...

I am worried regarding the authenticity - can anyone help me with my suspicions below;

1. I see that the watch has ‘Wrist Alarm’ on the dial but this dial description would not be on a 1970's watch. The ‘Wrist Alarm’ brand was replaced by the Memovox brand on the dial in the 1950’s…

2. Also, the manual cal. 814 was introduced in 1953 and was replaced in 1964 by the cal. 910; the watch I am looking at has the cal. 814 which suggests an older watch

3. The dial displays Jager LeCoulrte in full where as the movement displays LeCoultre - shouldn't these match...?

Can anyone help here - I am unsure how to accurately date the watch, can this be done from the case number ?

Thanks in anticipation,

Marcus
([email protected])

[zafbasha]

I can date the watch via the MOVEMENT serial number. It is not a 1970s watch and the dial has been redone to make it look like a Euopean model, which it isn't. This is a USA market watch, probably late 1950s.

[marcus]

Ah... thought as much...!

Is there a resourse for dating via movement numbers...?

I have another one I have my eye on and it looks far more genuine ... Can I pop an image or two over for your opinion?
Cheers,

Marcus

[marcus]

OK... here is my other prospect...

It looks like a more authentic 1950 model to me.

Cal. P489/1 is right for this dial and history...

What are your thoughts... ? value.

Many thanks,

Marcus

[zafbasha]

The dial here is an obvious refinish as well.

Keep looking...

[marcus]

OK - think I have THE one...1950/53, cal.489 nice blue dial markings...

Screen Shot 2016-01-15 at 16.45.13.png (159.66 KiB) Viewed 40094 times

[zafbasha]

This one looks OK.

[marcus]

Yup - they are not easy to find... any gut feeling on what I should pay for this? Its up for the top end of what I want to consider at £3700...

[zafbasha]

That's sounds REALLY expensive. I'd expect something around half of that.

[marcus]

Where to find an original, working and nice example ... thats the question - any suggestions..?
All reasonable priced ones end up being faked/patched or badly restored ...